Themes: Wit And Subterfuge
Battle of Minds
- 将者，智、信、仁、勇、严也。 — 始计
- 兵者，诡道也 。 — 始计
- 兵以诈立，以利动，以分和为变 。 — 军争
The gravity of war means that the general’s decisions and actions carry significant impact. It follows that the first of a general’s required qualities is 智 — wisdom, wit, intelligence, with which to deal with the high stakes environment, characterised by cunning and subterfuge.
- 不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。 — 谋攻
- 上兵伐谋，其次伐交，其次伐兵，其下攻城。 — 谋攻
Ultimate victory is achieved without fighting. This requires one to outwit her enemy using stratagem, as her enemy seeks to do the same.
- 攻其无备，出其不意。此兵家之胜，不可先传也。 — 始计
- 出其所不趋，趋其所不意。 — 虚实
- 故形人而我无形，则我专而敌分 。 — 虚实
- 故形兵之极，至于无形。无形，则深间不能窥，智者不能谋。 — 虚实
- 善守者，藏于九地之下，善攻者，动于九天之上。 — 军形
In combat, faced with limited resources and forces, one similarly seeks to outwit and outmanoeuvre the enemy by confusing and deceiving her of one’s plans and intentions. This allows one to penetrate the enemy’s defences by launching a surprise attack using a stronger force against a weakly defended position. Similarly, by successfully concealing one’s weakness, one prevents the enemy from concentrating forces at her most vulnerable positions.
- 战势不过奇正，奇正之变，不可胜穷也。奇正相生，如循环之无端，孰能穷之哉！ — 兵势
- 故其战胜不复，而应形于无穷。 — 虚实
- 故兵无常势，水无常形，能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神。 — 虚实
- 故将通于九变之地利者，知用兵矣。 — 九变
- 军争之难者，以迂为直，以患为利。故迂其途，而诱之以利，后人发，先人至，此知迂直之计者也。 — 军争
In order to confound the enemy, one needs to exercise mental flexibility and tactical variability. She appears contrarian at times and acts not in accordance with what is expected of her. She adapts to changing circumstances, and turns apparent challenges into opportunities.
- 非微妙不能得间之实。 — 用间
- 故惟明君贤将，能以上智为间者，必成大功。 — 用间
A shrewd leader is also a better spymaster in manipulating spies and discerning information.
